Reflections

Reflection #1

Week 1 reflections....

In Capstone today I brainstormed ways to adapt Halia's project and explore new potential research opportunities. We started with identifying my main objective which I decided will be why various sarcathelia colonies reacted differently to environmental stressors and narrowed it from there. Some ideas we came up with are looking at the different microbial communities of various sarcathelia populations, what the coral is growing on/ with, and looking into genes snps as potential pollution indicators. We also discussed sample collection techniques and looked at the 40 samples already collected. Lastly, I began research on gene functions of the octocoral, so I have a better understanding when I amplify them.

Reflection #2

Our trip to Puanui was insightful and inspiring. It was most interesting for me to see that there were still farms on island that understood and were in the process of revitalizing ancient agricultural practices. It was also fascinating to see how critical the maintenance of the field system is to prevent fires and regulate invasive species. In relation to my own project, It was a great visual of how environmental factors influence an ecosystem, Puanui was heavily affected by rain lines and even ungulates.

Reflection #3

The feedback I received about my opportunity statement from Molly and Eric was that I could perhaps speak more about why other people care about the death of the coral population in Kona. They suggested I look for ways to educate people on this particular species as part of my project and look into conservation efforts. Additionally, Izzy suggested that I do more outreach to scientists who've done similar research to get ideas for protocols and serve as a jumping off point.

Reflection #4

After giving my pitch and receiving feedback I have decided to use my second pitch idea to look into octocoral holobiome and how it affected bleaching response. Some constructive criticism I got was to speak more fluidly and a little slower. Additionally, to define my subjects more thoroughly and avoid the use of jargon terms. I really enjoyed sharing my pitch with a different group of people and found the experience informative, however I would have appreciated more constructive feedback around my project.

Reflection #5

Last class I joined other capstone students with Mr. Mckenna to get feedback on my progress and presentation thus far. I got some very helpful feedback, mostly regarding the content of my presentation. Many of my peers said I should work on using less jargon and slowing down a bit. However, the most insightful question I received was how I was going to share out the research I get, and how it will impact the scientific community. I have shared this information and skills in Biotech, and I plan to continue to spread this research through science fair, Halia, and the capstone expo.

Reflection #6

Post Science Fair thoughts: I personally had a great time. I was awarded the Air Force Award and was offered an internship by one of our judges. However, I will say the organization was questionable. It was pretty anti-climactic, and I felt that we were not competing on a level playing field. It was overall a good experience, however I would discourage Capstones from competing at this particular science fair in the future.

Reflection #7

The Capstone Expo was a great overall experience, I got a lot of helpful feedback and practice pitching my project. I feel more confident explaining my work, however it was a little overwhelming at times. I also, sadly, failed to recruit a junior to continue my project, however I plan to keep looking. The most helpful part of the expo was gaining experience sharing my work and combatting questions.

Capstone Personal Reflection

Name: Emma

Project Title:

As you answer the prompts, remember to explain and be specific; the more details the better the reflection.

Grade yourself (A-F) and explain how effectively you have been using your Capstone class time.

I would give myself a B overall because I feel solid about what I have done to prepare for the project including samples, skill learning and scheduling lab time to execute my project.

On average how much time do you spend out of class working on your Capstone project?

Probably as much time as it takes to do any homework given in Capstone like proposal writing etc. however, I can only work so much outside of the class considering most of the work for my experiment requires lab equipment.

Who are your mentors (2+), what is their role?

My mentors are Dr. J and Halia. Halia gave me the inspiration and jumping off point for my project and will later serve as a valuable resource for feedback. Dr. J has helped with all aspects of my experiment and capstone journey including overseeing the lab work and offering overall guidance and support.

How regularly do you work with them and when was the last time you contacted them?

I work with Dr. J every capstone class, and certain early mamo days, and although Halia is currently in Tanzania, we spoke earlier this month briefly via email.

What is your prototype and where are you at in the progress of it?

My prototype will be any results I get at the end of our lab work session on Friday the 17th in addition to the skills I gained doing the GMO papaya lab and micro pipetting workshop.

Are you on schedule to complete your prototype on time?

Yes, after I complete my lab work (and hopefully get positive results) I my prototype will be pretty much finished.

For your semester final presentation, who are 4+ people you will be inviting to the presentation? (It is hoped they can attend in person, but via Zoom is alright too.)

I will invite Halia (if she is back on island/ available), Mrs. Mcdowell, and my parents if they're interested.

What are 2+ ways I can support you better?

I think I have had a great amount of support and look forward to doing more lab work!

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